Pincage assembly for bowling pin setting machines



July 15, 1952 J, J SCHEPPE 2,603,487

PINCAGE ASSEMBLY FOR BOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINES Filed June 15. 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 1 In l'entor Jo h n J. .Scheppe y 15, 1952 J. J. SCHEPPE 2,603,487

PINCAGE ASSEMBLY FOR BOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINES Filed June 15. 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H 1? as 72 a0 66 Fig. 2

Invenzw Jam J. Szafieppe J. J. SCHEPPE July 15, 1952 PINCAGE ASSEMBLY FOR BOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINES S Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 13. 1949 Fig.3.

fig. 5.

Fig. 6.

Inventor Jam J. Scheppe Patented July 15, 195? 1 7 PINCAGE John J. S cheppe, Trenton, N. J

' ing pins and automatically releasing and placingv the bowlingpins, in their, proper arranged position, upon an alley.

Another very important object of the present invention is to provide1apin cage assembly for bowling pin= setters including a vertically movable "pinreceivingand' supporting framecon- :struction and embodying novel and improved means" for releasing the pins after the frame has been; lowered relative to an alley.

Yet another object of the present eluding"a.'.rvertically movable frame having a means foriretaining ,pins thereon, and means forlraisingzand lowering the frame so that pins can 1be:-spotted upon; an, alley.

A further object. of the present invention isto provide iaipin cage assembly for bowling pin setting machines including a reciprocating bowlingpin holdingframe thatis movabl vertically, toward andaway from an alleyand a floor or alley contacting member that will effect a releasing-of the pinsasthasaid member contacts a floor-rauey;

Astill -further-aim of the present invention is the provision-of a pin cage assembly for bowling pinsettersthatis simple and practical in construction; strong. and reliable in use; efficient and durable in operation; small and compact in structure; nea t and attractive in appearance; relatively inexpensive te -manufacture, install and operate; and otherwise well adaptedfo-r the purposes for which the same is intended. e

. "Qtherobjects and advantages reside in the detailsioff-cons'truction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being .had to the accompanying. drawings forming part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer tolike parts throughmi t, and in which: V I Figure l is a diagrammatic perspective view of th'e'present invention; a

Figure 2 'is'a fragmentary rear elevational view of the pin cage assembly fused in conjunction with the present invention, and showing the pin jrec'eiving frame inaraised position; f Figure 3. isfa view similar to Figure 2 'and'showing thefpin' receiving frame in a lowered posiiriiai iiewc ihe'f east are; earmsinsistence invention is. to'provide, abowling pin placing apparatus in- 7 Application June s, 1949, Serial No. 98,780 2Claims. (01. 273-42) ing the means employed in conjunction with the present invention for -raising and lowering'the pin receiving frame;'

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of Figure 3;

and 7 Figure '7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which pins are supported within. the pin receiving buckets or sleeves.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment -of the present invention, the numeral I0 represents, generally, the pin cage or vertically movable pin receiving frame that is used inconjunction with the instant invention. This frame l0 consists of triangular upper and lower grid-members l2 and I4 that are composed of a plurality of intersecting and joined rods. I a

The grid members" and Mare spaced parallel to each other and include rearwardly extending projections l6 and I8, at their rear corners, to which there is secured, by welding or the like, a pair" of spaced parallel tubular members 20 and 22. The tubular members 20 and 22 are braced to each-other by any suitable framework 24.

A group of vertically disposed pin receiving sleeves or buckets 26 are secured to the upper and lower grid members 12 and M. The sleeves 26 are spaced relative to each other a distance commonly established fo-r tenpins or duckpins so that the sleeves in each row will be staggered with respect to the sleevesof-an adjacent row, as shown best in Figure 4 of the drawings.

Means is-provided for supporting pins in the sleeves 26 and this means consists of a plurality of spaced parallel, longitudinally extending rods 28-that are journaled in suitable bearings or sleeves 30 secured to'the under surfaceof the :grid member l4.. ,4

Laterally'extending fingers or elongated guard members 32 are fixedto the rods 28 and these fingers 32 are so arranged as to provide one finger for each of the sleeves 26. The rods 28 are disposed below the lower ends of the sleeves 26 andthe fingers 32 are swingable in an arc toward the lower ends of the sleeves.

The rear ends of the rods 28 support laterally projecting arms that are disposed in a vertical plane spaced parallel to a plane through the tubular members and 22. The arms 34 are lfix d he ds. 28 a d-ar ivot dt an oper- .ating bar 36 that is spaced above and perpenbers Hand 22.

is terminally secured to the frame i and to one end of the operating bar 36 and urges the operating bar leftward as shown in Figure 2 to incline the arms 34, rotate the rods 28 and cause a raising of the fingers 32 to their pin supporting positions, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. I

At the other end of the operating bar 33 from the spring member 38 there is pivoted, as at 40, the shankportion'of a fioor'or alley contacting member or hook member 42 having an arcuate bearing surface or cam surface 44 in which there is provided a'recess 46.

Uprights 48 and 50 rise from the fioor or alley 52 and slidably receive the tubular members 20' and 22 so that the frame ill will be guided during its vertical movement toward and away fromthe alley 52. Pivoted as at 54 to the rear portion of th lower grid member I4 is a latch 56 having a hook portion 58 that will ride against the arcuate hearing portion-44 of the hookmember 42 as the latter is pivoted; upwardly uponcontacting; the alley during lowering of the'irame 1 9.: The hook portion 58 will enter the recess 48 'to hold the hook member 42 raised relative to the frame iii.

A lever -66 is secured at its lower'end tothe latch 56. and the upper-end of the lever supports ,a spherical. element 62 for apurpose later .to be described. Ajspring-B l secures ,theplever Gate the upper grid member ;t2-and urges the latch 56 toward the heol; member 42,

Means is-provided-for raising'andlowering the ,frame hand this means consists of upper and lower guide pulleys .Gfiand ;68-that are secured to theend portions of the uprights'4-8'and50. A

first pairof cables lll and-12-ha've their forward 1 ends secured to eyesfl4 and 16 011 the lower ends of the tubular members 28 and-22 and these cables or flexible elements (Band 12 are trained under the lower'guide pulleys 63 and over the upper :guide pulleys, 66.

A second pair of flexible elements or cables 78 andSO aretrained over the upper guide pulleys 66; and the forward ends of the second'pair of flexible elements 18-and180 are secured to eyes 82 and 84 at the upper ends of the tubular mem- Mounted upon suitable support disposed rearwardly of the v uprights 48 and 5D is a pair of spaced parallel, substantially horizontal guide I frame forming bars 86 {and ail that slidably sup- 7 port a, sliding j meinber 90. The vslidingmember 99 is-composed-of a pair of blocks 92 and 94; that are formed with-longitudinally extending bores that receive the bars :86 and'88. I

A group of connecting bars 9fi join the blocks -92 and' 94 to a further'block 98 fixed to the bars 796 between the blocks 92 and;94.' One endof a link or pitman 18B is pivoted to-the block 98 and the other end of the link) is pivoted tonne end lofa rotatable arm M2. The remaining end of the arm I02 isfiired to the drive shaft of a motor lti lso that whenthe motor is in operationthe "arm 1'02 will rotateto reciprocate the blocks 92, et-and as.

The cables IQ and '12-'are trainedover suitable forward guides lflfi'andrear guides Hi8 and are secured to therear'ends of blocks "92 and 94.

The cables -78 and B9 are also trained over the guides I98 and are securedto the forward ends of the blocks'92 and 94so that-as'the blocks 92 and 94 move rarwaLrdlya-iid away from the uprights '48 and 58 the frame iii will be' raised, whereas a forward movement of the bloeks fi and-94 will effect a lowering of the framelfl.

In practical use of the present invention, the

frame In is raised and pins are placed in the sleeves 26 to be supported within the sleeves by the fingers 32. As the frame lll is lowered, the hook member 42 will engage the alley 52 and will swing toward the latch 56.

The upward swinging movement of the hook member 42 will cause the operating bar 36 to Due tothe arrangement of the arm I02 andlink [00, after the pins have been released, the frame 10 will be raised; During the raising of the frame Ill, the spherical element 62 will ride againstthe'cam surface Hi0 ofastop H2, mounted above the :alley 52,"to :force the :hook portion -58 from the recess orznotch-46 and'the-spring 3,8i will return the operating Q1031!" 36, rods 28 gand a fingers .32 to their normal positions so that further'pins can be placed in the sleeves 2.6. j, 1

Having described the invention;Whatisclaimed 1:,A pin cage assemblyforrautomatlcbowling a :pin settersji-saidrpin cage assembly comprising a plurality of uprights; a vertically, movable :frame slidably mounted on saidiuprights and including a group 'of pin receiving: 'sleeves;.a plurality. of

rods journaled on said Jfranie for rotation and having laterallyprojecting fingers :mounted thereon, meansactingon 'saidrods and urging said fingers to a position for-supportingpins' in said sleeves, 'a fioor contacting-membercarried by said first-namedmeans for en'gaging'an alley to rotate the rods and-urge the'fingersaway from their pinsupporting gposition upon lowering of said frame, means for receiving-andjholdlng the floor co'ntactihg niember after the-member-has rotated the; rods and urged thefingers away from their pin suppQrting position, means for :releasing the means for receiving andholding the floor contacting member during rais'iiig'of the frame,

and means for raising and lowering theirame, said means for receiving'and holding said' floor contacting member including a latch pivoted to' 'said frame and having-a hoek portion, said fioor contacting it member havingan" arcuatebearing 'surface for riding'againstsaidho'ok portion and a recess in: said arcuate bearing surface for-receiving theahookportion, and means urgingsaid hook portion toward said arcuate bearing surface.

2. A "pin-cage assembly fonautomaticjbowling pin setters said ,pin cag'e assembly comprisinga verticallygmovable, frame including a group of pin receiving sleeves,:mea'ns carriedgby theframe and 'disposed beneaththe sleeves for retaining a ing member for 1 actuating said, means to "release the pins'retained within'the, sleeves, means for r e vi n ho d t e flo r nta t nsmemher; after the latter has actuated-said first-gnamed mea said m ans f ec ivin a holdi said "floor contacting member including a latchgpiv bearing surface for riding against said hook or tion and a recess for receiving saidhook portion,

a lever secured to said latch, resilient meansact ing on said lever and urging'sai fhookportion against the arcuate'bearingsurface; andcam 5 6 I means for engaging the lever during the raising Number Name Date of the frame to move the lever against action of 970,489 Gentle Sept. 20, 1910 said resilient means and urge the hook portion 996,250 Hughes June 27, 1911 from the recess. 1,542,804 Gray June 16, 1925 JOHN J. SCHEPPE. 5 1,564,054 Fisher Dec. 1, 1925 1,615,064 Bishop Jan. 18, 1927 I REFERENCES CITED 1,913,673 Igou June 13, 1933 The following references are of record in the 2,525,906 Johnson 17, 1950 me of this patent; 2,531,429 Hedenskoog Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Name Date Number Country Date 771,963 Backus Oct. 11, 1904 276,467 Germany July 11, 1914 

